Though a quality home life, being a mom, and having a family are essential components to the lives of many women, it can be difficult to balance a career while building an enriching personal life. It’s important for moms to know it’s possible to sustain a rewarding career while being a loving, nurturing parent at home. Here are a few tips to find balance in every aspect of your life.
Utilize Your Support Network
Family, friends, and colleagues are allies to ease schedule burdens. If you have a partner in the home, alternating work schedules is also a great step to ensuring children are cared for in a familiar place. Ask family or community members that you trust to cover gaps when supervision at home isn’t possible. Discuss your commitments with work leadership if telecommute or flexible scheduling options are possible.
Become A Time Management Master
Time management starts with knowing what has to be done. Making a list every evening before bed will help guide your following day. Check in with family members to cover schedule necessities to ensure bases are covered. Knowing what to do next can be half the battle. Without a schedule to follow, it can be even more difficult to get activities accomplished.
Pay Attention To Self-Care
Juggling work and home can leave little time for you. Remember, if you’re not well, you cannot appropriately give of yourself to others. Avoid burnout by carving out time to unwind, relax, and do things you enjoy.
Know Yourself
Understanding your tendencies can be a career mom’s greatest asset. If you take on too much, learn to say no. If your schedule balloons at the beginning of the week, under schedule yourself and over schedule help.
Choose A Fulfilling Career
Balancing work and family will be easier if you’re not simply going to work for a paycheck. Choose a career that allows you to grow and give back to your community. A desire to contribute can not only bring money, but a more enriching experience for you. Pursuing a social work career is an impactful option for working moms, and some of the most rewarding careers will require an online master’s in social work. You’ll bring the positive energy of knowing you’re doing well on the job into your home.
When a woman chooses to have children, decisions about her career inevitably follow. Having faith that a balance can be struck and utilizing the resources to do so can eliminate the juggling act and usher in a meaningful life of enrichment and satisfaction.